Cut Fabrics

Designers Cherie Ralston and Alma Allen used a freezer-paper method to prepare pieces for machine appliqué. Instructions that follow
are for this technique. (Patterns are provided for this technique; if you’re using another method, reverse patterns using a light box or sunny window.)

1. Lay freezer paper, shiny side down, over patterns. Trace each pattern the number of times indicated in cutting instructions. Cut out freezer-paper shapes on drawn lines.

2. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, sew together 10 triangle-squares in a row to make a short border No. 1 strip. Repeat to make a second short border No. 1 strip. Join 12 triangle-squares in a row to make a long border No. 1 strip. Repeat to make a second long border No. 1 strip. Press all seams in one direction.

4. Sew short red floral border No. 2 strips to opposite edges of quilt center. Add long red floral border No. 2 strips to remaining edges. Press all seams toward border No. 2.
Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, sew together 18 triangle-squares to make a short border No. 3 strip. Repeat to make a second short border No. 3 strip. Join 20 triangle-squares to make a long border No. 3 strip. Repeat to make a second long border No. 3 strip. Press all seams in one direction.

7. Referring to Quilt Assembly Diagram, sew together 26 triangle-squares to make a short border No. 5 strip. Repeat to make a second short border No. 5 strip. Join 28 triangle-squares to make a long border No. 5 strip. Repeat to make a second long border No. 5 strip. Press all seams in one direction.

Finish Quilt

2. Quilt as desired. Machine-quilter Lori Kukuk stitched a circular design on the appliqués and in the background of the quilt center, a feather motif on border No. 4, and a diamond grid on border Nos. 2 and 6. Veins were stitched into each leaf. In each triangle-square, she echo-quilted free-form triangles.